Top News

Rupert Lowe will not face criminal charges over allegations of "verbal threats" towards Reform UK's chairman. The Great Yarmouth MP was suspended from Nigel Farage's party earlier this year amid allegations about his conduct, which he denied.

Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime Division, said: "Following a thorough and detailed review of the evidence in relation to an allegation of threats, we have decided that no criminal charges should be brought against a sitting MP. Having considered a number of witness statements, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

"The CPS's function is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent, and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for a criminal court to consider. Based on the careful consideration of this evidence, we have decided that our legal test for a criminal prosecution has not been met."

The CPS added that the case was subject to the Victim's Right to Review scheme which allows alleged victims to ask for the decision not to prosecute to be reviewed.

Mr Lowe, who questioned Mr Farage's leadership in an outspoken interview days before he was kicked out, accused Reform of a "sinister attempt to weaponise the criminal justice system against me".

He added: "All because I dared to raise constructive criticisms of Nigel Farage, stood firm on deporting illegal migrants, and pushed for Reform to be run democratically - not as a vehicle to stroke one man's ego.

"How did Reform respond? With a brutal smear campaign. For the sin of asking legitimate questions about the party's direction, policies, and leadership, I was vilified and targeted."

Mr Lowe also launched a fresh attack on leader Mr Farage, insisting that "for the good of our country" he "must never be prime minister".

In a statement in March, Reform said Mr Lowe had been reported to police over alleged "threats of physical violence" to party chairman Zia Yusuf.